This story by Susan Smallheer was published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Oct.8.
[S]AXTONS RIVER — Police are looking for two men who were chased off by a Saxtons River couple after the men tried to break into their house on Hatfield Lane early Sunday morning.
Vermont State Police said the men are suspects in five additional burglaries within walking distance of the Hatfield Lane burglary. All six burglaries took place early Sunday morning, police said, between the hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.
The couple described the two men as 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, possibly white. One of the burglars had a small beige or light colored dog with him, the couple told police.
In addition to the Hatfield Lane burglary, which took place shortly before 4 a.m., burglaries were discovered on Pleasant Street, Grove Street, Burk Hill Road and Main Street. All six burglaries are within easy walking distance of each other.
Taken in the burglaries were cash, pocketbooks, wallets and laptop computers, police said. In most of the cases, all the valuables were within sight of a window or door, they said, and all were in plain view. In some cases, the burglars came in the homes by way of unlocked doors. In one case, the burglars came in by means of an unsecured window.
Louise Luring, president of the Saxtons River village, said she lives on Hatfield Lane but was not targeted by the burglars. She said the small village, population 545, cannot afford full-time coverage by police, and instead relies on the Vermont State Police, or part-time traffic patrols by the Windham County Sheriff’s Department.
“We depend on the sheriff for patrols and the state police when these sporadic burglaries happen. No way we could afford full-time coverage,” said Luring. “But you can bet I locked all my doors and windows last night.”
Police said the two men were trying to force their way into the Hatfield Lane home through a side door. They urged residents to lock their doors and windows when they are asleep or when they are not home.
Residents with information are urged to call the Vermont State Police, Westminster barracks, at 802-722-4600, or the state police tip line at 844-848-8477.
